Covered carton or container



April 13, 1954 K. T. BUTTERY COVERED CARTON OR CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Jan. 2'7, 1950 INVENTOR. [flV/ /Zflf BY 6% (2. 8

April 13, 1954 K. T. BUTTERY 2,675,163

COVERED CARTON OR CONTAINER Filed Jan. 27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR.

Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Sutherland PaperCompany,

Kalamazoo,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 27, 1950, SerialNo. 140,937

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in covered carton or container.

The main objects of this invention. are:

First, to provide a covered carton or container formed of an integralblank which may be quickly set up to receive its contents and quicklyclosed, and at the. same time when closed is very secure and rigid eventhough formed of relatively light container board or stock.

Second", to provide a structure having these advantages which, whenclosed, effectively protects the contents.

Objects relating: to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is" defined and pointedout in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. I is a perspective view of a carton or container embodying myinvention in fully erected position except for the closing of the cover.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view partially erected andillustrating the relation of certain parts.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end perspective view similar to that of Fig. 2and illustrating the parts in partially erected position.

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary sectional view on a line corresponding to line4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank.

I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a somewhat elongatedcontainer for conveniencev in description. in the specification andclaims I use the terms front, rear and end walls, but it will beunderstood that my invention is equally well adapted to squarecontainers and containers of other proportions and the wall designationsare arbitrary to that extent.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is formed of a single blankshown in Fig. 5 and comprises abottom I, front wall 2, and rear wall 3,these walls being hingedly secured tothe bottom by the scores 4 and 5.The endwalls 6 are hingedly connected to the bottom by the scores 1., l.The cover 8 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear wall 3by the score ii. The cover has: a closure flap H) on its swinging edgehingedly connected thereto by the score H. The front and rear walls havecorner flaps i2 hingedly connected thereto by the scores [3.

The end walls 6 are provided with diagonally d'isposed'slits l4 openingat their end edges and extending from their hinging scores 1. The endwalls are provided with cover supporting flaps l5 hingedly connectedthereto at It. The outer slits I! in the end walls have angularlydisposed end portions [8 which are generally lJ-shaped to providedefiectable tongue portions it. These slits i? extend across the hingingscores :6.

The corner flaps l2 have dovetailed recesses 20 in their side edgesproviding upwardly projecting tongues 2! and downwardly projectingtongues 22 and tab-like. portions 231 above the recesses. The outerlower corners or the corner naps in the embodiment illustrated arebeveled at 24 to facilitate their engagement with the end walls. Theslits M provide the end walls with deflectable portions 25, these slitsbeing arranged substantially as disclosed in my Patent 2,488,704, issuedNovember 22, 1949.

In erecting the container the end walls are swung upwardly and thecorner flaps angularly disposed relative to the side walls as shown inFig. 3. The bottom portions of the corner flaps are inserted through theslits Hi, this being easily accomplished by deflecting the portions 25inwardly. The tab portions are inserted through the outer pairs of slitsH as is indicated in Fig. 3, the tongue-like portion l9 being easilydefiected to permit this. With the walls completely erected the tongues21 engage the upper edges of the slits 14 while the tongues 22 engagethe lower edges of the slits H. The bottom edges '26 of the corner flapsare in supported engagement with the bottom and the upper edges 21 ofthe corner flaps. are flush with the score lines It so that when thecover supporting fiaps iii are folded inwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 4the corner flaps are held between the bottom and the cover supportingflaps. When the cover is open the corner flaps become disengaged or tiltoutwardly, and manipulation is required to disengage the interlockingparts. However, it is ordinarily contemplated that the containers willnot be knocked-down for reuse although they may be opened and closedseveral times.

To retain the cover in closed position, its closure iiap H! is tuckedbetween the front edges of the cover flaps and the front wall as. isshown in Fig. 4. The front wall has cuts and slits 39 therein providinga dovetailed tongue 28 engageable through the elongated n-shaped slit 29in the cover flap. This slit faces the edge of the cover flap and theend edges of the tongue engage with angularly disposed portions of theslit 28.

.With the parts'thus formed and arranged the container may be easily andquickly erected and when erected is very secure.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practicalembodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate other embodimentsor adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable thoseskilled in the art to embody or adapt 'my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A container comprising a bottom and front, rear and end wallshingedly connected thereto, a cover hingedly connected to the top edgeof the rear wall and having a closure flap on its swinging edge, thefront and rear walls having corner flaps on their end edges,'the loweredges of the corner flaps being supportingly engaged on said bottom, theend walls having inwardly foldable cover supporting flaps on their upperedges, the end walls havingin'ner pair of slits openingat their endedges and" extending diagonally inward from the hinge connections of theend walls to the bottom "to permit"supportin'g engagement of the loweredges of the corner flaps with the bottom, said end walls'ha'ving outerslits angled at their ends and'extending across the connections for thecover supporting flaps to the end walls, said corner flaps having dove'tail shaped recesses in their side edges providing upwardly projectingtongues "and downwardly projecting tongues, the upwardly projectingtongues being engageable with the upper edges of the inner slits of theend walls when the lower portions of the corner flaps are disposedthrough said slits in supported engagement with the bottom, portions ofthe corner flaps above their said edge recesses being eng'ageable in theouter: slits of the end walls with the downwardly projecting tongues inlooking engagement ,with the end walls at the bottom edges of said outerslits, said front and rear wall corner flaps when inserted into saidinner and outer slits of the end walls being movable in' 'arcs ofcircles the'centers of which coincide with the hinged connections of thefront and rear walls to the bottom, said endwall cover supporting flapsbeing foldable over and engaging the upper edges of said cornerfiapswhen the corner flaps are in such end wall engaging'position, thecover being closable'over the folded cover supporting flaps and-theclosure flap being insertable between the front wall and the front edgesof the cover supporting flaps, and means for detachably connecting thecoverclosure flap to the front wall. j

2. A'conta'iner comprising a bottom-and front, rear and endwalls'hingedly connected thereto, a cover hingedly connected to the topedge of the rear wall, the front and rear walls having corner flaps ontheir end edges, the lower edges of the corner flaps being supportinglyengaged on said bottom, the end walls having inwardly, foldable coversupporting flaps on their upper edges, the end walls having inner pairsof slits opening at their end edges and extending diagonally inward fromthe hinge connections of the end walls to the bottom to permitsupporting engagement of the lower edges of the corner flaps with thebottom, said end walls having outer slits angled at their ends andextending across the connections for the cover supporting flaps to theend walls, said corner flaps having dove tail shapedrecesses in theirside edges providing upwardly projecting tongues anddownwardlyprojecting tongues, the

upwardly projecting tongues being engageable with the upper edges of theinner slits of the end walls when the lower portions of the corner flapsare disposed through said slits in supported engagement with the bottom,portions of the cor ner flaps above their said edge recesses beingengageable in the outer slits of the end walls with the downwardlyprojecting tongues in locking engagement with the end walls at thebottom edges of said outer slits, said front and rear wall corner flapswhen inserted into said inner and outer slits of the end walls beingmovable in arcs of circles the centers of which coincide with the hingedconnection of the front and rear walls totth'e bottom, said end wallcover supporting flaps being foldable over and engaging the upper edgesof said corner fiaps when the corner flaps are in such end wall engagingposition, and the cover being closable over the folded cover supportingflaps.

3. A container comprising a bottom and front, rear and end wallshinge'dly connected thereto, a cover hingedly connected to the top edgeof the rear wall and having'a closure flap on its swinging edge, thefront and rear walls having corner flaps on their end edges, the endwalls having inwardly foldable cover "supporting flaps on their upperedges; the end walls having'i'nner pairs of slits opening at their endedges and outer slits extending across the connections for the coversupporting flaps to the end walls; said corner 'flaps having recessesin'their side edges providing upwardly projecting tongues and downwardly projecting tongues, the upwardly projecting' tongues beingengageablewith'the upper edges of the inner slits of the 'end walls whenthe lower portions of the corner flaps disposed through said slits,portionsof the corner flaps above their said edge recesses b'eingengageable in the outer slits of the end walls with the down wardlyprojecting tongue'sin engagement with the end walls, said front and rearwall corner flaps when inserted into said innerand outer slits of theend walls being movable in arcs of circles the'centers of whichcoincidewith the hinged connections of the front and rear-walls to thebottom, said end wall cover supporting flaps being foldable over andengaging the upper edges of said corner flaps when the corner flaps arein such end wall engaging position, the cover beingclosable over'thefolded cover supporting flaps and being insertable'between the frontwall and the front edges of the cover supporting'fla'ps, the coverclosure flap and front'wall having (beengagingretaining elements. 1

l. A' container comprising a bottom and front, rear and end wallsh'ingedly connected theretda cover hingedly connected to the top' edgeof the rear wall, the front and rear walls'having corner flaps on theirend edges,'the end walls having inwardly foldablecover supporting flapson their upper edges, the end walls having innerpairs of slits openingat their end edges and outer slits extending across the connections forthe cover supporting flaps to the end walls, said corner flaps havingrecesses in their side edges providing upwardly projecting tongues anddownwardly projecting tongues, the upwardly projecting tongues beingengageable with the upper edges of the inner slits of the end walls whenthe lower portions of the corner flaps disposed through said slits,portions of the corner flaps above their said edge recesse beingengageable in the outer slits of the end walls with the downwardlyprojecting tonguesin engagement with the end,walls,;s aid front andrear. 'wall corner flaps when inserted gamma into said inner and outerslits of the; end walls being movable in arcs of circles the: centers ofwhich coincide with the hinged: connections of the front and rear wallsto the bottom, said end Wall cover supporting flaps being foldable overand engaging the upper edges of said corner flaps when the corner flapsare in such end wall engaging position, the cover being closable overthe folded cover: supporting flaps.

5. A container comprising a bottom and front, rear and end wallshingedly connected thereto, and a cover hingedly connected to the topedge of the rear wall and having closure flap on its swinging edge, thefront and rear walls haying corner flaps on their end edges, the endwalls having pairs of inner slits opening at their-end edges and pairsof outer slits extending across the joints for the cover supportingflaps to the end walls, said corner flaps having recesses in their sideedges providing upwardly and downwardly'projecting tongues, the upwardlyprojecting tongues being. engageable with the upper edges of the innerslits of the end walls, the portions of the corner flap above therecesses being disposed through said outer slits of said end walls withthe downwardly projecting tongues lockingly engaged over edges of theouter slits, said front and rear wall corner flaps when inserted intosaid inner and outer slits of the end walls being movable in arcs ofcircle the centers of which coincide with the hinged connections of thefront and rear walls to the bottom, said cover supporting flaps beingfoldable over the upper edges of the corner flaps in retainingengagement there with, the cover being closable over said supportingflaps, the cover closure flap being insertable between the front walland the front edges of the cover supporting flaps, said cover closureflap and front wall having coacting retaining interlocking retainingengagement.

6. A container comprising a bottom and front, rear and end wallshingedly connected thereto, and a cover hingedly connected to the topedge of the rear wall, the front and rear Walls having corner flaps ontheir end edges, the end walls having pairs of inner slits opening attheir end edges and pairs of outer slits extending across the joints forthe cover supporting flaps to the end walls, said corner flaps havingrecesses in their side edges providing upwardly and downwardlyprojecting tongues, the upwardly project lng tongues being engageablewith the upper edges of the inner slits of the end walls, the portionsof the corner flaps above the recesses being disposed through said outerslits of said end walls with the downwardly projecting tongues lockinglyengaged over edges of the outer slits, said front and rear wall cornerflaps when inserted into said inner and outer slits of the end wallsbeing movable in arcs of circles the centers of which coincide with thehinged connections of the front and rear walls to the bottom, said coversupporting flaps being foldable over the upper edges of the corner flapsin retaining engagement therewith, the cover being closable over saidsupporting flaps.

7. A container comprising a bottom and end, front and rear wallshingedly connected thereto, a cover swingably connected to the rear walland having a closure flap on its swinging edge, the front and rear wallshaving corner flaps on their end edges, the end walls having coversupporting flaps foldable inwardly upon and in engaging relation withthe upper edges of the corner flaps when they are in erected end wallengaging posi- 6, tion, the endwalls having pairs of inner and outerslits, the corner flaps having opposed up:- wardly and downwardlyprojecting'portions along their inner edges engageable with said pair ofslits with portions of the bottom edge of the corner flaps in supportedengagement with the bottom, said front and rear wall corner flaps wheninserted into said inner and outer slits of thev end walls being movablein arcs of circles the centers of which coincide wtih the hingedconnections of the front and rear wallsto the bottom, the verticaldimensions of the corner flaps approximating the vertical distancebetween the bottom and the cover supporting flaps, when the coversupporting flaps are foldable inwardly over the upper edges of thecorner flaps, for the lower edges and the upper edges of the cornerflaps to engage the bottom and cover supporting flaps respectively tosupport the corner flap against tilting both downwardly and upwardlyand. to support the front and rear walls against tilting both inwardlyand outwardly, the cover being closable upon said cover supportingflaps, and means for releasably connecting the cover clo' sure flap andthe front wall.

8. A container comprising a bottom and end, front and rear wallshingedly connected thereto, a cover swingably connected to the rearwall, the front and rear walls having corner flaps on their and edges,the end wall having'coversupporting flaps foldable inwardly upon theupper edges of the corner flaps when they are in erected end wallengaging position, the end walls having pairs of inner and outer slits,the corner flaps having opposed upwardly and downwardly projectingportions along their inner edges engageable with said pairs of slitswith portions of the bottom edge of the corner flaps in supportedengagement with the bottom, said front and rear wall corner flaps wheninserted into said inner and outer slits of the end walls being movablein arcs of circles the centers of which coincide with the hingedconnections of the front and rear walls to the bottom, the verticaldimensions of the corner flaps approximating the vertical distancebetween the bottom and the cover supporting flaps, when the coversupporting flaps are foldable inwardly over the upper edges of thecorner flaps, for the lower edges and the upper edges of the cornerflaps to engage the bottom and cover supporting flaps respectively tosupport the corner flaps against tilting both downwardly and upwardlyand to support the front and rear walls against tilting both inwardlyand outwardly, the cover being closable upon said cover supportingflaps.

9. A container comprising a bottom and end, front and rear wallshingedly connected thereto, a cover swingably connected to the rear walland having a closure flap on its swinging edge, the front and rear wallshaving corner flaps on their end edges, the end walls having coversupporting flaps foldable inwardly upon the upper edges of the cornerflaps when they are in erected end wall engaging position, the end wallshaving slits therein, the corner flaps having portions engageable withsaid slits with portions of the bottom edge of the corner flaps insupported engagement with the bottom, said front and rear wall cornerflaps when inserted into said end wall slits being movable in arcs ofcircles the center of which coincide with the hinged connections of thefront and rear walls to the bottom, the vertical dimensions of thecorner flaps approximating the vertical distance between the bottom andthe cover supporting flaps,'when the cover supporting flaps are foldableinwardly over the upper edgesof the corner flaps, for thelower edges andthe upper edgesxof the corner flaps to engage the bottom and coversupporting flap respectively to support the corner flaps against tiltingboth downwardly and upwardlyand to support the front and rear wallsagainst tilting both inwardly and outwardly, the cover being closableupon said cover supporting flaps, and means for releasably connectingthe cover closure flap and the front wall.

10, A container comprising a bottom and end, front and rear wallshingedly connected thereto, acove'r swingably connected to the rearwall, the front and rear walls having corner flap on their end edges,the end walls having cover supporting flaps foldable inwardly upon theupper edges of the corner flaps when they are in erected end wallengaging position, the end walls having slits therein; the corner flapshaving portions engageable with said slits with portions of the bottomedge of the corner flaps in supported engagement with the bottom, saidfront and rear wall corner flaps when inserted into said end wall slitsbeing movable in arcs of circles the centers of which coincide with thehinged connections of the front and rear walls to the bottom, thevertical dimensions of the corner flaps approximating the verticaldistancebetween the bottom and the cover supporting-flaps; when thecover supporting flaps are foldable inwardly over the upper edges of thecorner flaps, for the lower edges and the upper edges of the cornerflaps to engage the bottom and cover supporting flaps respectively tosupport the corner flaps against tilting both downwardly and upwardlyand to support the front and rear walls against tilting both inwardlyand outwardly, the cover being closable upon said cover supportingflaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V 7Number Name Date Re. 12,217 Webb May 3, 1904 382,312 Lockwood May 8,1888 610,950 Smith Sept. 20, 1898 668,550 Webb Feb. 19, 1901 1,525,687Owens Feb. 10, 1925 1,533,478 Stella et al Apr. 14, 1925 1,681,940Lander Aug. 28, 1928 2,303,796 Rueckert Dec. 1, 1942 2,447,563 ButteryAug. 24, 1948 2,488,705 Buttery et a1. Nov. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 555,273 France Mar. 19,- 1923 493,410 Great BritainOct. 7, 1938

